Violet House

The sudden investigation had disrupted Rayne's plans.

He did not know whether another sheriff or Demon Extermination Squad member would come knocking, or whether they might be watching him in secret. To avoid exposing himself, he decided to stay in the apartment for a few days.

With nothing else to do, Rayne began exercising at home.

At the Supernatural Academy, aside from teaching swordsmanship and some knowledge related to Transcendents, the teachers spent most of their time urging everyone to exercise and improve their physical fitness.

The Soul Transformation Ritual tested the strength of one's will, and under normal circumstances, a strong will required a powerful body to support it.

Perhaps there were a few geniuses who had weak bodies yet could endure the torment of a tortured soul.

But for most ordinary people, only by exercising continuously for several years, breaking through their physical limits time and again, and tempering their wills could they increase their chances of successfully undergoing soul transformation.

The Academy taught many different exercise methods, divided into extremely detailed categories, almost as complex as the fitness programs from his previous life.

Running built endurance, presses trained strength, and there were several sets of combined aerobic and anaerobic exercises, as well as choosing a weapon to learn and mastering a style of combat.

If one had money, one could also buy various alchemical potions with different effects.

For example, there was the Lion King's Strength Potion, which enhanced muscle strength; Muscle-Relaxing Tea, which relieved fatigue; Vitality Potion, which quickly restored stamina; and even Focus Oil, which slightly increased soul strength. There were more than a dozen types of potions in all, and using an entire set would cost enough Gold Shields to bankrupt a minor noble family.

Long-term use of alchemical potions would make one's physical fitness far stronger than that of ordinary people, even if the Soul Transformation Ritual failed.

Rayne had never drunk an alchemical potion. His father, Bard, was one of the wealthiest people in their hometown, running a grain and oil mill, but he could only afford Rayne's tuition. Alchemical potions were nothing more than a pipe dream.

However, the Rayne of now no longer needed alchemical potions.

In the apartment, he trained with a series of physically exhausting movements somewhat similar to the "burpee" from his previous life. He linked them with several other high-difficulty exercises into a complete routine, an enhanced version of bodyweight training.

After training for more than ten minutes, Rayne was drenched from head to toe, sweat pouring down like rain. But he did not stop. He wanted to see where his limits lay.

As he continued exercising, his phone's battery charge slowly declined as well.

Finally, more than two hours later, the charge dropped to only 20%. Rayne felt a powerful wave of fatigue and stopped. A large area of the apartment floor was soaked with sweat. He was panting like an ox, steam rising from his body as if he had been steamed, and his limbs were weak and sore. He could barely stand.

Yet beneath the fatigue, what he felt even more strongly was a clear, refreshing sense of comfort!

To think I can maintain such high-intensity exercise for more than two hours in one go. With my current stamina and strength, if I entered the Olympics, I could probably win dozens of gold medals with ease!

What a pity I can't go back. I can't show off in front of everyone.

Rayne shook his head regretfully, humming as he went to the bathroom for a shower. Then he went downstairs to the restaurant beside the apartment and ate his fill, his enormous appetite secretly astonishing the owner.

After filling his stomach and resting for two or three hours, Rayne discovered that his battery charge was full again and his stamina had completely recovered, as if he had enjoyed ample rest.

Thus, he began torturing himself relentlessly.

He repeated that same routine, exhausting his stamina and battery charge, eating, recovering, and then beginning a new cycle.

He continued exercising like this for nearly a week.

Aside from returning to the Basil Inn once during that time to exchange the bag of banknotes for Gold Shields at the bank and then bringing them back to hide, Rayne stayed in the apartment exercising. He slept only two or three hours a day but had to eat four or five meals, each meal enough to satisfy two or three people.

The results of such high-intensity, monotonous training were astonishing.

Rayne's weight had increased by more than ten pounds. His build had become more even and solid, and the contours of his muscles had grown somewhat more distinct. He no longer looked as thin as before.

The most significant change was the increase in his strength. After giving it a simple test at home, he found that it had risen by nearly half compared to before he began training. He could easily lift objects weighing around five hundred pounds and walk around with them casually. If the apartment had not restricted him, he might even have been able to run!

This kind of strength was more powerful than that of some Transcendent professions that did not specialize in strength.

However, he had almost reached the limits of an ordinary person. Rayne could feel that no matter how crazily he trained from then on, the improvement would be minimal.

It's time to prepare for the Soul Transformation Ritual.

Rayne had not let down his guard during these days of training. From time to time, he activated the Voice of All Things to listen to the sounds around the apartment, but he had not discovered anyone secretly watching him, nor had any sheriff come knocking.

This showed that Pollock of the Security Bureau had indeed not continued the investigation, and at least for the time being, it would not involve him.

Rayne tidied himself up and put on a brand-new outfit, giving himself an entirely refreshed appearance.

The formal wear popular among men in the Empire was somewhat similar to suits on Earth. Only nobles and wealthy businessmen in high society wore it regularly. A single outfit could cost half a month's wages. Ordinary commoners would wear it only on important occasions and normally could not bear to take it out.

Rayne had bought this new outfit two days earlier when he went downstairs for a meal, at the tailor's shop next to the restaurant.

Clothes really do make the man. I was already handsome enough, but with this outfit and this physique, I'm practically a male model... Rayne showed himself off in front of the mirror for a while, then nodded in satisfaction. He stuffed dozens of Gold Shields and a stack of banknotes into his wallet before heading out.

Standing by the roadside, Rayne noticed that people turned to look at him rather often.

Whether men or women, after passing by him, they would often mutter a few words under their breath. It was nothing more than jealousy or praise.

Rayne was secretly delighted, but he had not forgotten that he still bore the Strife Mark, so he hurriedly raised his hand and hailed a carriage.

"Sir, where would you like to go?" the coachman asked respectfully.

Rayne had already decided on his destination. "To Violet House on Brent Street."

Brent Street was in the Silver Star District, not far from any of the three Supernatural Academies. Located between them, it was the most upscale commercial district in Longsand City. Every business on the entire street dealt in goods related to Transcendents. All kinds of alchemy shops, artisan workshops, potion stores, weapons and equipment, Rune Knowledge, and even the most valuable Demon Souls could be found on Brent Street.

Rayne had often browsed Brent Street with his classmates in the past. He had no money, so he had always only looked and never bought anything.

Just as "the people who know the most about luxury cars often can't afford to buy one," Rayne had seen enough to understand a few things.

The shops on Brent Street competed fiercely with one another. Every shop had some power supporting it from behind and possessed countless connections with the upper classes of Longsand City.

Among them was a shop established only a few years earlier called Violet House.

The shop was not large, and it was not particularly famous, but it had an excellent reputation. The Transcendent items it dealt in were remarkably comprehensive, and even the largest shops on the street were slightly inferior to it. It seemed to have some mysterious background.

Rayne had visited Violet House several times and had never been treated coldly, leaving him with a favorable impression.

The carriage soon left Los District, crossed the Feregron River by bridge, and entered the Silver Star District.

A tall tower appeared on the horizon. As the carriage advanced along the broad, clean streets, the tower drew closer and became clearer.

Rayne activated his Soul Eye and looked toward the tower.

It stood more than three hundred meters tall, with a four-sided, columnar body. He did not know what material it was made from. The structure was primarily white, and scratches covered its surface in patterns, resembling pipes through which energy seemed to flow faintly.

The tower was dozens of meters wide at its base, narrowing gradually as it rose. It was impossible to tell how many floors it contained. At the top floated a huge object resembling an eyeball, with blue energy continuously flowing into it from below.

Even in the daytime, one could see the beams of light it emitted outward, like a gigantic searchlight sweeping across the entire Silver Star District.

"The Spirit Demon Eye!"

"They say it's an eighth-circle spell, permanently fixed onto the Wizard Tower by Duke Silverstar. It can see extremely far, detect enemies in advance, and unleash terrifying magical attacks."

Rayne adjusted the focus of his Soul Eye, wanting to see more clearly. Suddenly, the Spirit Demon Eye atop the tower seemed to notice something, and its gaze swept over.

Holy crap, is it that sensitive?

Rayne reacted with lightning speed and immediately deactivated his Soul Eye.

The next second, that gaze fell upon the carriage. An indescribable pressure descended, and the light inside the carriage brightened until everything within and without was illuminated, making Rayne's heart tremble.

The carriage, which had been racing along, suddenly slowed sharply. The coachman let out a loud cry and steadied the startled horse.

Fortunately, the Spirit Demon Eye's gaze merely swept past and did not lock onto the carriage.

"Sir, are you all right?"

The coachman hurriedly stopped the carriage and said half-complainingly, half-explainingly, "Everything in the Silver Star District is good, except that eye on the tower is always looking around everywhere. It scares the horses. I've run into it three times this year, and I even overturned once. That passenger was injured too. Although His Grace the Duke paid the full compensation, along with an additional sum, it was still a troublesome matter. Sigh..."

Rayne was shaken as well. Hearing the coachman's words, he comforted him, "I'm fine. Keep going."

"All right." The carriage soon started moving again.

After that, Rayne learned his lesson and did not dare look carelessly at the Spirit Demon Eye on the Wizard Tower again.

Half an hour later, the carriage entered an extremely prosperous street. Vehicles traveled back and forth, and private automobiles, rarely seen elsewhere, were everywhere here. There were not many pedestrians, but every one of them was dressed in finery, confidence shining on their faces. The stark contrast with the poor district made it seem as though the two places, despite being separated by only a river, belonged to different worlds.

Transcendents could be seen passing by on the street from time to time.

They wore all kinds of equipment and carried weapons. Some even had fierce beasts beside them or used them as mounts, yet they caused no panic or commotion. It seemed people had long since grown accustomed to it.

Before long, the carriage stopped in front of a shop.

"Sir, we've arrived at Violet House," the coachman said.